48.005 BF386

Tebenna micalis

(Mann, 1857)

---

Wingspan c. 13mm.

This small species, related to the very common Anthophila fabriciana, is a scarce migrant to the southern counties, and transitory resident. On a number of occasions since it was first discovered in the early 1980s, it has remained to breed in numbers, but in other years has apparently been absent from the same regions.

The adult moths are found usually between June and August, when they can be found visiting flowers of the foodplant, fleabane (Pulicaria dysenterica) during the day, as well as attracted to light at night.

The gregarious larvae feed in a loose web on the underside of the leaves and create blotches on the leaves, visible from above.